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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
331 AM MDT FRI APR 25 2014
...THIS IS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN WYOMING...
THE WEEK OF APRIL 21 TO APRIL 25 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED SEVERE WEATHER
AWARENESS WEEK IN WYOMING. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS WEEK IS THE TEST
TORNADO DRILL WHICH WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING. THE STATEWIDE TEST
TORNADO WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT 1030 AM MDT BY NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICES SERVING WYOMING. THIS TEST TORNADO WARNING WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY A TEST SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT AT 1045 AM MDT WHICH WILL
CANCEL THE TEST WARNING.
THIS STATEWIDE DRILL OFFERS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS...LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES...SCHOOLS...AND BUSINESSES AS WELL AS OTHER PRIVATE GROUPS
AND CITIZENS THE CHANCE TO TEST THEIR SEVERE WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS
AND PLANS IN ADVANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER SEASON. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION IN THIS DRILL.
A TORNADO IS A RAPIDLY ROTATING COLUMN OF AIR THAT IS IN CONTACT WITH
THE GROUND. A VISIBLE CLOUD IS NOT NEEDED FOR A TORNADO TO BE IN
PROGRESS. SOME TORNADOES MAY NOT APPEAR TO EXTEND TO THE GROUND BUT
ARE CAUSING DAMAGE.
TORNADOES TAKE ON VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES. MOST PRODUCE WINDS LESS
THAN 120 MPH. HOWEVER...A FEW ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS OVER 200
MPH. SOME ARE VERY SMALL AND LAST FOR ONLY A MINUTE OR SO...WHILE
OTHERS CAN BE A MILE OR TWO WIDE AND STAY ON THE GROUND FOR OVER AN
HOUR.
TORNADOES CAN OCCUR IN EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR DURING EVERY HOUR
OF THE DAY. HOWEVER IN WYOMING...TORNADOES ARE MOST LIKELY TO FORM
DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS DURING THE MONTHS
OF MAY THROUGH AUGUST.
IF AN ACTUAL TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED OR YOU SEE A TORNADO
APPROACHING...FOLLOW THESE SAFETY RULES:
* IF AN UNDERGROUND SHELTER IS NOT AVAILABLE...MOVE TO THE LOWEST...
MOST INTERIOR ROOM AVAILABLE AND GET UNDER A STURDY PIECE OF
FURNITURE IF POSSIBLE. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
* MOBILE HOMES...EVEN IF TIED DOWN...OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION FROM
TORNADOES AND SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR A MORE STURDY STRUCTURE.
* IF IN AN OFFICE BUILDING...SHOPPING MALL...OR SCHOOL...GO INTO AN
INTERIOR HALLWAY AND CROUCH ON THE GROUND AGAINST A WALL. COVER
YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS. SEEK SHELTER SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN WIDE-
OPEN ROOMS LIKE GYMNASIUMS...AUDITORIUMS...OR THE COMMON AREAS OF
SHOPPING MALLS.
MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR WORKPLACE ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. REVIEW THE PROCEDURES AND PRACTICE
THEM DURING THE DRILL.
OTHER TORNADO INFORMATION AND MYTHS CAN BE FOUND ON-LINE IN A TORNADO
PREPAREDNESS BROCHURE AT
WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/SEVEREWEATHER/RESOURCES/TTL6-10.PDF
STAFF FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RIVERTON ARE ALSO
AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT PRESENTATIONS REGARDING WEATHER SAFETY...
AWARENESS...CAREERS...AND NUMEROUS OTHER TOPICS. TO SCHEDULE A
PRESENTATION FOR YOUR SCHOOL...COMMUNITY...CHURCH...OR CIVIC GROUP
PLEASE CALL 1-800-211-1448.
BILL MURRELL
METEOROLOGIST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
RIVERTON WY
WEATHER.GOV/RIVERTON
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